--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a democracy sovereignity is vested in…" description: "\"In a democracy sovereignity is vested in a majority; and a majority is not only, at best, an ignorant, foolish and emotional mob, but shifts continuall..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jean-bodin-73758_democracy_in-a-democracy-sovereignity-is-vested-in_1703594.jpg" --- # In a democracy sovereignity is vested in a majority; and a… ![“In a democracy sovereignity is vested in a majority; and a majority is not only, at best, an ignorant, foolish and emotional mob, but shifts continually and alters from year to year.” quote by Jean Bodin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jean-bodin-73758_democracy_in-a-democracy-sovereignity-is-vested-in_1703594.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jean-bodin-73758_democracy_in-a-democracy-sovereignity-is-vested-in_1703594.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jean-bodin-73758_democracy_in-a-democracy-sovereignity-is-vested-in_1703594.jpg) > “In a democracy sovereignity is vested in a majority; and a majority is not only, at best, an ignorant, foolish and emotional mob, but shifts continually and alters from year to year.” Jean Bodin ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy places power in the majority, which can be ignorant, emotional, and changeable. **In simple terms:** Majorities can be ignorant and fickle. Key Takeaway Beware of majority rule without safeguards. Themes democracy majority ignorance emotion change Mood critical analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - Voting - policy making - public discourse Key Concepts Political theory social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can we protect against mob mentality? - What mechanisms ensure informed majorities? A Different Perspective Majorities can also be informed and progressive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) ## Related quotes > [What is more comforting to the terrorists around the world: the failure to pass the 9/11 legislation because we lacked 'a majority of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/what-is-more-comforting-to-the-terrorists-around-the-world-the/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [“On Obama: “He was elected by a majority, but the majority doesn’t get to decide who we execute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/on-obama-he-was-elected-by-a-majority-but-the-majority-doesn-t-get-to/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [“Democracy is essentially government by the majority, and a majority may be stupid, unenlightened, foolish, misled, and corrupt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/democracy-is-essentially-government-by-the-majority-and-a-majority/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) > [It is proof of a base and low mind for one to wish to think with the masses or majority, merely because the majority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giordano-bruno/it-is-proof-of-a-base-and-low-mind-for-one-to-wish-to-think-with-the/) [Giordano Bruno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giordano-bruno/) > [A law is a law. It can be voted in. It can be voted out. It can be voted in and stay in as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-hay/a-law-is-a-law-it-can-be-voted-in-it-can-be-voted-out-it-can-be-voted/) [Harry Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-hay/) > [You don't just go with a majority because it's the majority. You go with it because it's right. If it feels right, do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-elliott/you-don-t-just-go-with-a-majority-because-it-s-the-majority-you-go/) [Joe Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-elliott/) > [...Albert-next-door doesn't care for reading, and he has not read nearly so many books as we have, so he is very foolish and ignorant,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/albert-next-door-doesn-t-care-for-reading-and-he-has-not-read-nearly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are petty-minded people who cannot endure to be reminded of their ignorance because, since they are usually quite blind to all things, quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/there-are-petty-minded-people-who-cannot-endure-to-be-reminded-of/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [Right, and you point out something important which is that people who don’t want to pay, people who are pirates, don’t get bothered by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/right-and-you-point-out-something-important-which-is-that-people-who/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [Virtue is as little to be acquired by learning as genius; nay, the idea is barren, and is only to be employed as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/virtue-is-as-little-to-be-acquired-by-learning-as-genius-nay-the-idea/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The goal of the Creator is for each entity to make a conscious choice to again seek Oneness, out of our own free will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilcock/the-goal-of-the-creator-is-for-each-entity-to-make-a-conscious-choice/) [David Wilcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilcock/) > [Regrets are just a way for the foolish and the guilty to pass the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gensoumaden-saiyuki/regrets-are-just-a-way-for-the-foolish-and-the-guilty-to-pass-the-time/) Gensoumaden Saiyuki > [I was so foolish to ever leave your side, Searching for what was right before my eyes. It was me who didn't realize, 'til…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmine-sullivan/i-was-so-foolish-to-ever-leave-your-side-searching-for-what-was-right/) [Jazmine Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmine-sullivan/) > [...it isn't foolish or wicked to enjoy. Wickedness is hurting people on purpose. I love what you are and who you are and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/it-isn-t-foolish-or-wicked-to-enjoy-wickedness-is-hurting-people-on/) [John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/) ## More by Jean Bodin > [History teaches us the mistakes we are going to make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bodin/history-teaches-us-the-mistakes-we-are-going-to-make/) Jean Bodin > [The study of History is the beginning of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bodin/the-study-of-history-is-the-beginning-of-wisdom/) Jean Bodin > [The study of history is the beginning of political wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bodin/the-study-of-history-is-the-beginning-of-political-wisdom/) Jean Bodin Explore all 4 Jean Bodin quotes ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In a democracy sovereignity is vested in a majority; and a majority is not only, at best, an ignorant, foolish and emotional mob, but shifts continually and alters from year to year.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean Bodin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bodin/in-a-democracy-sovereignity-is-vested-in-a-majority-and-a-majority-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bodin/in-a-democracy-sovereignity-is-vested-in-a-majority-and-a-majority-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jean-bodin-73758_democracy_in-a-democracy-sovereignity-is-vested-in_1703594.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jean-bodin-73758_democracy_in-a-democracy-sovereignity-is-vested-in_1703594.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jean-bodin-73758_democracy_in-a-democracy-sovereignity-is-vested-in_1703594.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In a democracy sovereignity is vested in a majority; and a majority is not only, at best, an ignorant…” — Jean Bodin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jean Bodin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-bodin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In a democracy sovereignity is vested...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bodin/in-a-democracy-sovereignity-is-vested-in-a-majority-and-a-majority-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bodin/in-a-democracy-sovereignity-is-vested-in-a-majority-and-a-majority-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```